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3D ⁷Li magnetic resonance imaging of brain lithium distribution in bipolar disorder

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Fiona Smith, Professor Peter Thelwall, Joe NecusORCiD, Carly Flowers, Professor Andrew BlamireORCiD, Dr David Cousins

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Abstract

Lithium is a major treatment for bipolar disorder and the likelihood of a favourable response may be determined by its distribution in the brain. Lithium can be directly detected by magnetic resonance (MR), but previous ⁷Li MR spectroscopy studies have demonstrated that this is challenging compared to conventional ¹H MR imaging due to the MR properties of the lithium nucleus and its low concentration in brain tissue, as dictated by therapeutic dose. We have tested and implemented a highly efficient balanced steady-state free precession ⁷Li-MRI method to address these challenges and enable MRI of brain lithium in a short duration scan. We report a 3D ⁷Li-MRI acquisition with 25 mm isotropic resolution in an 8-min scan that demonstrates heterogeneity in lithium concentration within the brain in subjects with bipolar disorder. This represents the direct imaging of a pharmaceutical agent in its target organ and notably expands the repertoire of techniques available to investigate the effects of lithium in man.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Smith FE, Thelwall PE, Necus J, Flowers CJ, Blamire AM, Cousins DA

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Molecular Psychiatry

Year: 2018

Volume: 23

Issue: 11

Pages: 2184-2191

Print publication date: 01/11/2018

Online publication date: 09/02/2018

Acceptance date: 02/01/2018

Date deposited: 13/02/2018

ISSN (print): 1359-4184

ISSN (electronic): 1476-5578

Publisher: Nature Publishing Group

URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-018-0016-6

DOI: 10.1038/s41380-018-0016-6

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